The Industrial Revolution in Britain was a time of newfound social freedoms. New inventions and scientific discoveries have enabled faster and cheaper production of goods. Production processes have created jobs and favored the birth of new industries. For the first time people believed in social mobility. People believed they could make a fortune and get out of the class they had been trapped in all their lives. In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens creates a world parallel to that of the Victorian era, where class divisions can be overcome. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The novel's protagonist, Pip, receives a fortune that allows him to study to become a gentleman. This unknown wealth quickly demoralizes him and he dissociates himself from his previous life with his new social position. In addition to ignoring his past for a tempting, rich life, he leaves Biddy for a chance with the unattainable Estella. The influence of both money and Estella on Pip deeply corrupts his morals and character throughout the story. Pip's relationship with Estella and Biddy, and vice versa with wealth and poverty, suggests Dickens's views on society; that advancing one's social position will not advance one's character. Pip initially fails to recognize Biddy's purpose in his life. Biddy is first introduced to the story as the granddaughter of Mr. Wopsle's great-aunt. He works at his grandmother's school, where he meets Pip. Pip always describes her as a sweet and kind child, mature and intelligent for her age. His character shares many similarities with that of Pip; she is also an orphan, is of a significantly lower class, and was also hand-reared. They spend a lot of time together and Biddy starts to really care about Pip. When Pip asks her to teach him to read and write, "Biddy, who was the kindest of girls, immediately said she would" (Dickens 66). Biddy, like Pip, lives a simple and miserable life. She is perfectly content with her social status and has no interest in becoming rich and abandoning her lower class. Although she appears to be a perfect match for Pip, he never expresses interest in her romantically. He never gives her very flattering descriptions in terms of beauty. Pip says that "his hair has always wanted to be brushed, his hands have always wanted to be washed, and his shoes have always wanted to mend and raise the heel" (40). While Biddy definitely has feelings for Pip, she never conveys the same emotions. He never romantically associates himself with Biddy and the common people she represents. Pip fails to understand that Estella is out of his league and that pursuing her will only cause him pain. Pip meets Estella when his uncle Pumblechook arranges for him to meet Miss Havisham. Miss Havisham is extremely wealthy, and her adopted daughter, Estella, shares her prosperity. From the second Pip first meets Estella, he knows she is out of his league. His arrogance and upper class contempt for Pip and his ways immediately form a divide between the two characters. Pip notes that she was "beautiful and self-possessed" and that he "was as contemptuous of her as if she were twenty-one and a queen" (51). He is extremely rude to Pip, making him feel inferior and worthless. She shatters all his pride, mocking his lower class behavior and attire. It makes him ashamed of the things he used to be proud of. Pip says that "his contempt was so strong that it became contagious and [he] contracted it" (55). The twothey clearly have nothing in common, but Pip is enchanted and falls under her lustful spell. He lives a life of luxury, boasting of his wealth and high social class. Pip, a simple boy in labor, cannot match the grandeur he exudes. It changes his perspective of society, cementing the idea of ​​social hierarchy in his innocent mind. He fails to see that she has no interest in him, yet he dedicates himself to becoming a gentleman so that she will accept him. He wants to free himself from the derision and ridicule of a life he will not now associate with. When Pip realizes he has an anonymous benefactor, his connection to life in the forge begins to fade. As its monetary value increases, so does its moral corruption. Pip uses this newfound wealth to distance himself from his past life and, in turn, from Biddy. When he sees her again, after being exposed to the luxurious life of money, his behavior is much more pretentious and he lets his arrogance get to his head. It makes her feel guilty about her social class, as her new perspective made him. Pip explains how terrible his life as a laborer was and asks her "what it would mean to [him], to be rough and common, if no one had told [him]" (116-117). Biddy is hurt by this bold statement, pointing out that it was "neither a very true nor a very polite thing to say" (117). Pip's tone suggests that he no longer identifies with Biddy and that his current prosperity makes him intrinsically better than her. Although he acts rather presumptuous towards Biddy, Pip knows in his heart that he would be better off if he were with her. He tells her “if only I could fall in love with you,” to which she replies, “but you never will, you see” (119). Biddy knows that Pip will never love her, but she continues to treat him with the same kindness and respect she showed him when she was younger. He continues to be present in her life, helping her struggling family when Mrs. Joe is seriously injured. It represents a kind of moral solidity, presenting a picture of what Pip's life might have been had he not been corrupted by the lure of wealth and become a gentleman. The two remain friends, but Biddy eventually decides to marry Joe. Through Biddy, Pip sees materialize the life he could have had had he not let his lust and greed determine his path. After Pip learns about Estella and her life of luxury, he is determined to become a part of it and separate from his family. Estella's appearance leads a naive Pip to believe that she is above him, and he becomes fixated on her and her social position. He cannot see class as anything other than rich and poor, and his new perspective makes him realize that he is the latter. He is determined to overcome his previous poverty, in the hope that Estella will eventually accept him. His anonymous benefactor offers him the opportunity to rise in class and wealth, and he believes this is his opportunity to win Estella. When he meets her again, he is completely fascinated by her beauty. He says that "Estella seemed more delicately beautiful than she had ever seemed, even in [his] eyes" (242). He still considers her a divine presence and equates her elegance with superiority. He continues to adore her and longs for her to accept him even more than ever. Instead of the passionate embrace he longed for, he is met with the same contempt she showed him when they were younger. Estella is cruel to him and continues to despise him and his social class. Pip recognizes how terrible he truly is, but can't shake his romantic desires. He reflects on “how happy [he] would have to be if [he] lived there with her,” even though he knows.